Economics at Forest School
Head of Department: Miss C Morgan cm@forest.org.uk
Put simply, Economics is the study of how a society uses its scarce resources to satisfy unlimited wants and needs. Economists seek to answer three problems:
- What to produce?
- How to produce?
- For whom to produce?
Why study Economics?
- To understand how firms, markets and households interact to form the economy.
- It offers a rigorous academic and intellectual challenge.
- It goes well with many other A Level subjects because it combines mathematical and data handling elements with the need to write essays.
- It is a first step down a wide range of career paths such as banking, law, journalism and politics.
- To acquire and apply a range of valuable skills, including decision making, problem solving, challenging assumptions and critical analysis.
- To develop into a more informed citizen to participate more fully in society.
Pupils will have opportunities to engage with the subject both within and beyond the specification.
Our rich curriculum includes:
- Opportunity to attend or lead the Economics Society
- Explore and debate key economics theories and/or current affair
- Visit the Bank of England or a leading City firm
- Attending public lectures at London School of Economics and Political Science
- Support with external essay competitions as well as academic stretch sessions for sixth form students applying for scientifically rigorous university courses
A-level Overview
The Edexcel A Level in Economics qualification enables students to:
- Develop an interest in, and enthusiasm for, the subject
- Appreciate the contribution of economics to the understanding of the wider economic and social environment
- Develop an understanding of a range of concepts and an ability to use those concepts in a variety of different contexts
- Use an enquiring, critical and thoughtful approach to the study of economics and develop an ability to think as an economist
- Understand that economic behaviour can be studied from a range of perspectives
- Develop analytical and quantitative skills, together with qualities and attitudes that will equip them for the challenges, opportunities and responsibilities of adult and working life
Assessment at A-level
Overview of assessment and sample papers:
- Each exam lasts 2 hours and has 100 marks available
- Most marks are allocated towards extended open-response questions
- 20% of the total marks are for quantitative skills (interpreting and manipulating numerical data)
- Sample assessments can be found on the Edexcel Website
Curriculum Maps – All Years
How can Economics change the world?
Economic power is shifting. Fragmentation in Europe keeps the ball rolling all the way to the Asian economic superstates. During the next 20 years we will quickly move on from knowing that in theory to experiencing it in reality. China will no longer be a set of characters stamped on your latest electronics purchase, but a dominant presence in our economic lives, as it is already in parts of the southern hemisphere.